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Very few people understand the heart

In truth, your heart is one of the masterpieces of creation. It is a phenomenal instrument. It has the potential to create vibrations and harmonies that are far beyond the beauty of pianos, strings or flutes. You can hear an instrument, but you feel your heart. And if you think you can feel an instrument, it’s only because it touched your heart. Your heart is an instrument made of extremely subtle energy that few people come to appreciate.

Taken from the untethered soul (chapter 6 – the secrets of the spiritual heart)

“His are the only clothes in which I am myself,” Hepburn once said of Givenchy,

Givenchy designed outfits for many of Hepburn’s films, like this strapless, floral gown in 1954’s “Sabrina.”

according to Vogue. “He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality.”

Audrey Hepburn, as the designer’s muse, accompanied him in inventing a style that would redefine standards of beauty.

The House of Givenchy is sad to report the passing of its founder Hubert de Givenchy at the age of 91 (February 21, 1927 –March 10, 2018), a major personality of the world of French Haute Couture and a gentleman who symbolized Parisian chic and elegance for more than half a century. He will be greatly missed.

MAISON

THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE

Hubert de Givenchy founded his namesake fashion house in 1952. No sooner did it open than it earned a reputation for breaking with fashion codes of its time. After an incredibly successful 40 years career he would be succeeded by some of fashion’s great talents that contributed to the house of Givenchy ongoing story.

Hepburn’s Givenchy gown at the 1954 Academy Awards is still one of the most memorable Oscars dresses of all time. NBC/Getty Images

Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy founded his namesake House in 1952. That same year, he presented a collection that would leave an indelible mark on fashion history: his “separates” – elegant blouses and light skirts blending architectural lines and simplicity – met with enormous success in light of the more constricted looks of the day.

He also dressed the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly and many other famous and non-famous women. The most memorable fashion moment maybe: Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress, in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

The NY Times referred to him as the Fashion Pillar of Romantic Elegance.

For a tasty and fool-proof recipe try these two ingredient (yes, you read that right), two bite, peanut butter cookies.

It doesn’t get much easier than this for a quick energy peanut butter cookie fix. I tried this months ago and was meaning to post. But I thought nah, nobody is going to believe you can make cookies this simply. But you can. Mind you, they tend to crumble more unless you add something like a little rice malt syrup to help bind them.

They have a lot of protein without the sugar. A win-win situation.

You will need:

1 cup natural 100 per cent peanut butter.

1 free range egg.

Optional extras: salt, cacao nibs, cacao powder, rice malt syrup.

1. Preheat your oven to 350℉ (180℃) and pour your peanut butter into a bowl. Since it’s natural peanut butter and has no added emulsifiers, it should be a little runny. This will make it easy to stir.

2. Add your egg and stir. Keep going until it firms up to a cookie dough consistency – you should be able to roll it into a ball with your hands. “If you like a salty peanut butter, this is the right time to add a pinch of rock salt.

3. Take Tablespoon amounts of the mixture and roll into balls with your hands. Place on a lined tray and gently squash them to a disc shape. Use a fork if you like.

4. Optional: Add a tablespoon of cacao powder to half the remaining cookie mix. If you have it on hand, cacao makes these super rich. Almost like a peanut butter cup.

5. Pop your cookies into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown with a slightly cracked surface.

I don’t know why they call them “Standard” Poodles when they’re anything but Ordinary.

I first heard about the Standard Poodle Club of the Desert at Poochellawhere I take my dogs for grooming.

The SPCD is a social club that is comprised of over 350 poodles and their people. They have meet-ups once a month from November through April to promenade oodles of poodles in a walk along El Paseo in Palm Desert. Then everyone meets for breakfast.

Pet Companion Magazine

Pet Companion Magazine

The goal is to socialize and share their love of the breed with the community. And it is a sight to see. I thought I would check it out even though my preference runs towards shelties.

After all, poodles are sought after canine companions, known for their intelligence, hypoallergenicstylish coat and good nature.

Fun fact: the poodle of yesteryear was originally used as a hunting dog in Germany.

Michael Sporn Animation

To properly walk them, you have to look as good as they do.

I never had a Standard Poodle. As a kid we had two miniature poodles. Maybe because I was tiny at the time. Pom Pom, the male, was black. Trixie, the female, was white. People usually conjure up images of poodles elegantly prancing around a show ring. My mom had ours coiffed but never in a show ring. Although at the time they did run the show & appeared pretty high maintenance.

Jane Fonda pulls off the cowgirl look as only she can – with natural style & grace.

How about cowgirls?

If you don’t reside in places like Tennessee or Texas, you seldom see cowboy hats worn except as a fashion statement. But they’re back! As a fashion statement or otherwise.

Cowboy boots are among the top spring/summer 2018 shoe trends, but to fully embrace your cowgirl spirit, you definitely also need a cowboy hat. I’ve been anxiously waiting for this Western style to reappear on the scene. That’s why I didn’t let go of a few pairs of cowboy boots that sat dormant at the back of my closet. And maybe that’s why I recently bought another pair of cute cowboy inspired ankle books.

Hearty dishes aren’t usually described as elegant, but this classic French recipe is the very definition.

This is something I would usually reserve for ordering in a good French restaurant, and even then, it’s not something I readily crave. But I had chicken and I had white wine on hand. Actually I had everything except the bacon so it made sense to find a recipe.

PHOTO: Liz Andrew. STYLING: Erin McDowell

The only problem? You need Julia Child levels of patience and skill to pull it off. Enter this foolproof version, which is ready in under an hour. Plus, it’s made with dry white wine instead of red for an elegant twist.

What you need:

3 pounds chicken (8 pieces total—thighs, breasts and drumsticks)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 strips bacon, diced

1 large sweet onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 pint cremini mushrooms, sliced

2 cups dry white wine

1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until it’s well browned, about 4 minutes per side.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Add the bacon to the skillet and cook until the fat begins to render, about 3 minutes.

Add the onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and mushrooms, and sauté until the mushrooms are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.

Add the browned chicken back to the skillet. Pour the wine into the skillet, stir in the mustard and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat.

Cover the skillet and simmer until the chicken is almost fully cooked, 15 to 20 minutes.

Uncover the skillet and add the cream. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is fully cooked, 8 to 10 minutes.

Six months, when looking ahead seems like an eternity, but when looking back, it’s a blink of an eye. It really is.

One of my best friends gifted me with a book entitled when thing fall apart when things fell apart after losing my husband. Unknowingly, my sister gifted me with the very same book. They both believed the book would help guide me to some understanding or at least a place of acceptance. It was an interestingly thoughtful read and it did help to some degree. At the very end there was a website where you could enter your e-mail address to receive weekly mindful insights to your inbox. Reassuring insights are always encouraging, especially when they come from an American woman who became a Tibetan Buddhist.

Like all explorers, we are drawn to discover what’s out there without knowing yet if we have the courage to face it. -Pema Chödrön

Just wanted to share one which I feel to be thought provoking and true. Let me know if you agree.

THE UNIVERSAL DILEMMA

The source of our unease is the unfulfillable longing for a lasting certainty and security, for something solid to hold on to. Unconsciously we expect that if we could just get the right job, the right partner, the right something, our lives would run smoothly. When anything unexpected or not to our liking happens, we think something has gone wrong. I believe this is not an exaggeration of where we find ourselves. Even at the most mundane level, we get so easily triggered—someone cuts in front of us, we get seasonal allergies, our favorite restaurant is closed when we arrive for dinner. We are never encouraged to experience the ebb and flow of our moods, of our health, of the weather, of outer events—pleasant and unpleasant—in their fullness. Instead we stay caught in a fearful, narrow holding pattern of avoiding any pain and continually seeking comfort. This is the universal dilemma.

When we pause, allow a gap, and breathe deeply, we can experience instant refreshment. Suddenly we slow down, look out, and there’s the world. It can feel like briefly standing in the eye of the tornado or the still point of a turning wheel. Our mood may be agitated or cheerful. What we see and hear may be chaos or it may be the ocean, the mountains, or birds flying across a clear blue sky. Either way, momentarily our mind is still and we are not pulled in or pushed away by what we are experiencing. – Excerpted from: Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears – by Pema Chödrön

Why do people look for outside help or answers, and in doing so discover spirituality? It’s a survival mechanism to deal with life’s challenges which hits you in the face. I found out Pema came to explore her spirituality as an attempt to cope with the emotional trauma of her failed marriages.

About Pema:

One of the most beloved of American Buddhist teachers, Pema Chödrön has devoted her life to inspiring people to awaken and has changed many lives in the process. She is the author of many influential books, such as When Things Fall Apart, Living Beautifully, and The Places that Scare You. Her writing, which explores Buddhist concepts and offers paths to conquering subjects such as suffering, fear, and difficult times, has inspired people worldwide.

My advice: You take sound advice from the wise until you’re wise enough to offer your own.

Because time marches on and maybe New Year’s came and went so fast that you have to catch up with your resolutions which you’ll have a hard time resolving if you put too much pressure on yourself intending to fulfill all of them at once. You can only try to do your best.